Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)E (most hardship)
Family Type (not applicable for home-based)
Non Family
Staff Member / Affiliate TypeUNOPS LICA5
Target Start Date2024-06-01
Job Posting End DateMay 27, 2024
Terms of Reference1. General Background (Brief description of the national, sector-specific or other relevant context in which the individual contractor will operate)
UNHCR is committed to the effective protection to children of concern, with children representing more than half of the persons falling under its mandate. UNHCR adopts a rights and community-based approach to address the protection needs of children, with a strong emphasis on inclusion within national child protection, child friendly procedures and working with other sectors to protect children including education. Child protection is recognized as global organizational priority for UNHCR. Dedicated child protection positions are needed to provide technical support to improve UNHCR’s operational capacity to deliver effective protection to children, adolescents and youth of concern.
The Senior Child Protection Assistant normally reports to a higher-grade Protection or Child Protection colleague responsible for child protection. S/he monitors child protection standards, operational procedures and practices in protection delivery in line with international standards and provides functional protection support to information management and programme staff. The Senior Child Protection Assistant is expected to coordinate quality, timely and effective protection responses to the needs of populations of concern (children, women, marginalized groups) and is responsible for implementation of Best Interests Procedures for children at risk in their area of responsibility, under the guidance of the supervisor. S/he identifies opportunities to mainstream Child Protection methodologies and integrate protection safeguards in operational responses in all sectors and liaises externally with authorities and partners on protection doctrine and policy as guided by the supervisor. The Senior Child Protection Assistant also ensures that persons of concern under area of responsibility are involved with the Office in making decisions that affect them, whether in accessing their rights or In identifying appropriate solutions to their problems. To achieve this, the incumbent will need to build and maintain effective interfaces with communities of concern, local authorities and protection and assistance partners.
2. Purpose and Scope of Assignment (Concise and detailed description of activities, tasks and responsibilities to be undertaken, including expected travel,
If applicable)
- Contribute to assessing child protection issues through multi-sectoral and protection specific assessments.
- Through interviews, field visits, and interactions with children and other stakeholders, identify children at risk and in need of protection interventions.
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- Facilitate consultation with children, youth and communities to shape, contribute to the child protection strategy and programme activities and planning.
- Participate in community outreach with asylum seeker communities, including participatory assessments, focus group discussions and individual engagement to ensure the effectiveness and relevance of UNHCR assistance and protection activities;
- Ensure compliance with UNHCR’s child protection policy, priorities and commitments, as well as other aligned policies on age, gender, diversity (AGD) and accountability to affected populations (AAP), GBV, gender equality, disability and youth empowerment.
- Undertake consultation with children, youth and communities and provide information on appropriate and meaningful approaches for their effective participation and programmatic responses on child protection issues.
- Provide input to the Protection Unit to advise and advocate to address key child protection concerns.
Programme planning and implementation
- Engage children, youth and communities in the implementation of child protection activities, provide information to children, youth and communities about child protection services and monitor and report on needs and issues to inform the Operations Response.
- Where required, undertake best interest assessment/determination for individual asylum seeker children at risk and prepare Best Interests Assessment/Determination reports.
- Participate in the Best Interests Procedure Case Conferences and BID panels and draft associated documentation as required.
- Implement child protection SOPS and ensure up to date and effective referral to key services.
- Store and update chil’'s case file in UNHCR data bases in accordance with UNHCR standards.
- Engage with children, youth and community members in identifying community-based child protection activities.
- Monitor and support appropriate care arrangements for unaccompanied and separated children and referral of children to ICRC or other relevant partners for establishment of family linkages.
- Regularly report on emerging protection issues and concerns voiced by children, youth and communities and assist in drafting reports, compiling and preparing data for the protection unit/section.
- Provide functional guidance to UNHCR and partner staff involved in child protection activities including at the joyful learning spaces.
Partnership, coordination and capacity building
- Assist the Child Protection interagency coordination and information management activities as needed.
- Raise CP issues in the appropriate forums at the provincial and national level
- Provide technical support and monitoring to child protection partners.
- Provide training to partner/ UNHCR staff when needed including on job feedback and advise as well as trainings in formal environment.
- Support in implementing learning activities for UNHCR and partners staff and communities.
- Perform other related duties as required.
3. Monitoring and Progress Controls (Clear description of measurable outputs, milestones, key performance indicators and/or
reporting requirements which will enable performance monitoring)
4. Qualifications and Experience (List the required education, work experience, expertise and competencies of the individual contractor. The listed education and experience should correspond with the level at which the contract is offered.)
a. Education (Level and area of required and/or preferred education)
2 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 1 year relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher
b. Work Experience (List number of years and area of required work experience. Clearly distinguish between required experience and experience which could be an asset.
Essential
2 years of previous work experience relevant to the function of child protection in a local context and having experience in the field of child protection prevention and response, broader protection or social work involving empowerment of women and girls, gender, child protection, mental health, counselling and working with survivors, humanitarian and development issues. Skills and experience in interviewing and working with children and families.
Desirable
Experience with child protection case management. Knowledge of UNHCR child protection policies and tools including the UNHCR Best Interests Procedures Guidelines, and interagency child protection Minimum Standards, Guiding Principles and GBV case management standards. Knowledge of local child protection laws, policies and services. Knowledge and experience of participatory approaches to engage with and mobilize communities. Understanding of displacement and protection issues including GBV, education and the application of the Age, Gender and Diversity Policy. Completed Protection Learning Programme. Experience working with marginalized groups. Knowledge of protection information management tools, including but not limited to proGres and/or CPIMS.
Functional Skills
PR-Experience in Best Interest Procedures for children;
PR-Interviewing and counselling refugees/asylum seekers and in individual case management;
IT-Computer literacy;
PR-Child Protection Information Management System (CPIMS);
Language Requirements
Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English.
c. Key Competencies (Technical knowledge, skills, managerial competencies or other personal competencies relevant to the performance of the assignment. Clearly distinguish between required and desired competencies)
Core Competencies
Accountability
Communication
Organizational Awareness
Teamwork & Collaboration
Commitment to Continuous Learning
Client & Result Orientation
Managerial Competencies
Not specified.
Cross-Functional Competencies
Analytical Thinking
Political Awareness
Stakeholder Management
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,
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Skills
Education
Certifications
Work Experience
Other informationwritten test might be conducted for this positionThis position doesn't require a functional clearance
Home-BasedNo